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BUS ÉIREANN STAFF could strike on Sunday to mark their opposition to cuts due to be imposed by the company.
Yesterday, Bus Éireann warned that its controversial cost-cutting plan needed to be implemented as soon as possible or it is likely it will end up breaking the law.
Proposed changes
However, unions at the company have rejected the proposed changes to pay and conditions. Today, the National Bus and Rail Union secretary general Michael Faherty said on RTÉ radio show Morning Ireland that the union has had a mandate for industrial action since January, and it will ballot this week on whether to reject the proposals, which were set out in a Labour Court recommendation.
While he did not want to pre-empt the outcome, he said that on the basis of what they are hearing from members, it is likely they will be rejected. “If that is the case it will be up to the company to tell us what they are going to do,” he said.
If the company does go ahead and implement the changes, Faherty said the NBRU members “will not be operating under those conditions” which would mean an all-out strike from Sunday.
Faherty said that there are elements of the Labour Court recommendation that “are unacceptable” and that “somebody someday will have to sit down” and discuss changes to it.
The members are willing to undertake industrial action as they feel “so strong about this”, said Faherty.
Andrew McLindon of Bus Éireann said that since June 2012 the company has been engaged in talks with trade unions about the difficult financial situation the company is in.
It needs the savings from payroll terms and conditions to protect its viability and to protect 2500 jobs. It lost €6 million last year.
The company said it may be required to call an Extraordinary General Meeting to deal with the situation if it isn’t allowed to cut pay.
Changes
The Labour Court recommended a range of measures to save around €5 million from the payroll. Among the recommended changes are:
The intention of the company is to implement the recommendations, but if they are introduced this Sunday, it is likely that trade unions could undertake industrial action.
If there is industrial action, that is “entirely a matter for unions”, said McLindon, who described it as “completely counterproductive”. He also said that legally, unions have to give 7 days notice of industrial action, so “any industrial action on Sunday would be unofficial”.
He said that if they do intend to undertake industrial action, unions need to outline what that will be for the sake of the Bus Éireann customers, so that they can be informed by the company.
Eamon Gilmore
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore spoke about the issue during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil today, saying that the viability of Bus Éireann is at risk if it can’t make the cuts.
He said that the company remains open to engaging with the unions, and he very much hopes the management and unions use the period between now and Sunday to engage in further dialogue which will ensure the necessary savings are introduced.
He added that this government “is committed” to the public transport service and that is why it wants to keep Bus Éireann in existence.
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What did Hitler do to deserve this comparison?
About 6 million Jews
He did the holocaust against Jews.
Thanks Father.. I had no idea. I hope no one misinterprets my comment as sarcastic!!!
You sir have made my day with that comment.
This ad campaign s gonna cause major ructions in Germany. Wonder what she’d look like to the Irish?
Both Hitler and Merkel share the same philosophy – European dominance and control. The only, yet significant difference between them, is the absence of the Gas Chambers and a war.
If you dont like It protest against being in the E.U. See how long we last without them because Ireland was clearly better before we joined :/
@Terence MacSwiney Field .
Gas cahmbers are old hat – and a bit blatant – Austerity gives the same results – and is put out under the guise of Democracy – far better way of doing things .
And – Oh – there is / are wars – they are currncy wars – and they cost lives too . I think Hitlers total will be surpassed easily by The Mekels , Camerons ,Obama s etc of this planet .
I’m homosexual and don’t see the Pope as a club wielding caveman. I see him as the head of an insidious, bigoted, vile, evil organisation that doesn’t think twice about seeking to destroy others in an attempt to retain their disgusting wealth and power.
Weird things happen at that house Father. Can we give it a miss this time?
Fabrice he doesn’t have an illness, you’re the one that’s ill, working for an organization that protects paedophiles and making this man feel there is something wrong with him because he was born differently to you. I wish there was a hell so you could burn in it Fabrice, pieces of shit like you are what’s wrong with this country. I hope the Catholic church dies sooner rather than later. I will rejoice when it does.
@john kissane, I’m gay and don’t think I’m evil, lol so much so I red thumbed the comment you relied too.
Fabrice, a quote comes to mind: “when one person suffers a delusion they calm it insanity, when many suffer a delusion they call it religion”.You, Sir, are deluded in many ways.
That priest page if you look on twitter is actually a parody account, just not very good at being funny
#Fr.Fabrricei Ingodola if you are not a Troll. then you need a one way ticket to the House of your Father where you should repent for your wicket ways.
@Damien Kelly
The reason we don’t allow gay marriage in Ireland is because it would undermine traditional Irish values like bigotry, intolerance, and hatred.
Top class sarcastic remark, and funny aswell.
Sorry this reply was not ment for your comment. I agree with yours, it was for Fr Fabrice Ingodola. My apoligies.
Completely unfair comparison.
Hitlers moustache was smaller….
Second Berlusconi statue is supposed to be like Vito Corleone from The Godfather I reckon
was thinking that myself
Stop the press: priest makes ignorant statement that bears absolutely no connection with reality.
He’a troll.The real priests name is Rev Cajetan Ngozika Ihewulezi ministering in St Louis USA.
Ah i take it this is fr frank from last week.
The very one Leslie.
Troll indeed. Evil toll. He can’t insult anyone since he is the actual son of Satan.
Mrss. Merkle is a saintly woman. She saves your country but still you mock her. You have no moneys and she is your only friend to lend you financially. Shame on you.
I never asked her for any money! I pay my own bills and dont gamble
Fr she never lent money to the Irish people. We didnt get a cent. It was lent to the banks to pay off German speculators who lost out when the banking crisis occured
Ah your fake account has already been outed,but hey troll away.;-)
Fr. Fabrice has to be a troll or his account is a parody account. Look at his comments – nobody is that stupid. I don’t think people like him exist even in the deepest bowels of Africa’s jungles so I am going with parody account.
Internet trolls these days are terrible. The tone of their Comments are far too obvious. I just skip over them, I don’t red thumb as that’s what they want just move on to someone with an actual argument to make. Next.
If he is a priestl then I’m a ardent supporter of our wonderful coalition people first government.
Is that a joke. Its not a funny one
Go home father, you’re drunk.
You obviously mean we saved her country.
Irish banks going bust wouldn’t have hurt us as much as it would have hurt those who lent money to them – the German Landesbanks.
Merkel’s Germany stopped guaranteeing their own banks in 2005 but they forced us to save them when it all went wrong:
http://www.economist.com/node/2251827
For every debt there is a credit and every loan an asset. Those who risked their assets with their eyes closed (Germans) are as much to blame as those who borrowed them with their eyes open (Us).
Too much altar wine!
Ireland is one of the only countries to offer full bank guarantees to the huge investees. You all saw the news where the junior bond holders were burnt while the large bond holders were saved. That means all the biggest investors in the bank were told “prior to the bailout” that they were safe while they let the smaller shareholders burn without the friendly word of warning other holders received. Hmm now if this was Iceland ppl would have to GO TO JAIL!!!!!!!!!!
Arsehole
Epic ar$e hole.
Leader of Germany who has undue influence and power in Europe, fair comparison really.
Relax, she’s just ordering five beers!
Did we have a soul before the catholic church invented it?
history will prove the mag correct!!
“Heiling” not “Hailing” surely?
Heilen
At least Hitler could dance.
So we heard what the Greek, Spanish and Germans think of her, why no Irish opinion, since we were bailed out, also?
She’s the typical Irish mammy. She picks you up when you fall over and wipes the muck off your face, and you grumble when she say’s it’s bedtime – but you go anyway because you know you’ll not get your pocket money.
Fr. Fabrice Ingodola
@FrFabriceIngodo
A Parody Of Catholic Church
For many in Greece the austerity policies which Merkel more or less presides over is the real Hitler meance and Golden Dawn the foot soldiers http://www.newstiller.com/world/647-neo-nazis-plaguing-greece
Utterly stupid. Someone actually got paid to come up with these.
Typo* calling homosexuality an illness
have your say